Publisher's Description

In the high desert town of Frenchmans Bluff, Idaho, Felicia Kristoffersen has set out to create a future for herself that is better than her painful past. Alone in the world with only her faith to sustain her, she must prove herself as this tiny communitys new school teacher. She cannot, must not, fail. But, there are those who never wanted her there to begin with. Five years after the death of his wife, local merchant Colin Murphy cares about just one thing: raising his daughter, Charity. Colin wants to give her the educational advantages he never had. The new schoolmarms inexperience doesnt sit well with him, and if this teacher up and marries like the last one did, Charitys heart will be broken once again. A woman who hasnt known love. A man who lost the love he had. In the midst of the wide, sage-covered plains, each is about to discover that lifes bitterest circumstances truly can work together for good. Tender, evocative, and beautifully written, Belonging is a journey about love after loss, and about two hearts destined to become onedespite their stubbornness! Belonging is Robin Lee Hatcher at her best! Tamera Alexander, bestselling author of Within My Heart and The Inheritance Belonging is vintage Robin Lee Hatcher: a touching, tender love story, filled with genuine conflict and characters that quietly build a nest in your heart. A skillful blend of description, emotion, and spiritual reflection, Belonging will sweep you away to late nineteenth-century Idaho, glad to have a seasoned novelist driving your buckboard wagon with a sure hand. By story's end you'll no doubt sigh with relief, smile with delight, and turn back to page one for a second visit with our determined Miss K. Loved it!"  Liz Curtis Higgs, New York Times bestselling author of Mine Is the Night

Author Bio

Bestselling novelist Robin Lee Hatcher is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. The recipient of Lifetime Achievement Awards from both RWA and ACFW and winner of the Christy, RITA, and numerous other awards, Robin has authored over 75 books. She and her husband make their home in Idaho where she enjoys spending time with her family, her high-maintenance Papillon, Poppet, and Princess Pinky, the DC (demon cat). For more information, visit www.robinleehatcher.com, Facebook: robinleehatcher, Twitter: @robinleehatcher

ChristianBookPreviews.com

Award-winning author Robin Lee Hatcher's book Belonging follows the story of Felicia Kristoffersen, a young, nineteenth-century woman who wants to leave her past behind. She arrives in Frenchman's Bluff, Idaho as the new schoolmarm. Felicia has never known love, and isn't looking for it. Merchant Colin Murphy lost the love he had and is skeptical of the new schoolmarm. Despite heavy criticism from one of the town's most affluent members, Felicia finds that God provides healing and that two broken people can find love.

One of the highlights of the novel is the faith journey of the characters, especially Colin. It soon becomes clear that he struggles to make his faith real, and he questions whether or not he can really trust in God. All of the characters have some sort of faith in God, and the Christian messages are very clear. Felicia takes time out of her day to pray and read her Bible, an important discipline that is exemplified and honored in this book. Belonging also makes the point that churches are not meant to be gossip circles and shows what that sort of behavior looks like from the outside.

The story in itself is not terribly different from any other Christian romance novel. However, that's part of the fun in reading it. The characters in Belonging feel familiar and are relatable. Its an easy and entertaining tale. Fans of the Christian romance genre will enjoy the book.  Olivia Jessup, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com

I have been a fan of Robin Lee Hatcher for several years and I always look forward to reading one of her books. I was not disappointed when I read this book. Her characters and the story were very engaging. I would recommend this book.

This my first time reading a book by this author and she is now on my list of Christian authors that I love. I am definitely a fan. What an absolutely wonderful story. I was delighted throughout the whole reading. I was anxious to see how it ended yet I did not want it to end. Readers will definitely love the characters and can't help getting a soft spot for Charity. A definite must read and very highly recommended.

Being the history dork I am, I often think of eras I would like to have lived in (even though the grand ol year of 1982 and E.T. is legit). Am I the only one who does this? If I am, just ignore the previous statement.

But if you are like me, then awesome - it's good to know I'm not riding solo. Take the Civil War for example. How exciting and scary would it have been to be a nurse or lead people through the underground railroad? Or even during World War II, imagining doing my part (Rosie the Riverter style) in a war that was fighting for something with meaning.

Then there's the days of American history when settlements popped up in the 1800s all over the West (and died just as quickly). While I heart my running water and world wide web, what an adventure it must have been to start something new, be in a small town and know everyone. It's against this backdrop that Robin Lee Hatcher takes us through in Belonging. She paints a beautiful picture of the late 1880s Idaho in the small town of Frenchman's Bluff.

I love her characters. There are ones with depth, ones you really want to punch and Hatcher's development is superb. Like I want to be Felicia's (the main character) friend. The characters are like anyone today. Some have painful pasts they're trying to move forward from, some are just mean and you definitely root for the ones trying to find love. It's a great story!

The next book in the series Betrayal is now out and I'm looking forward to grabbing a copy of that one!

Robin Lee Hatcher is a name I've seen around Christian fiction for a while but had never taken the opportunity to try out. I'm glad I finally took the chance with her "Where the Heart Lives" series.

In the beginning of Belonging, we are introduced to Hugh, Felicia, and Diana Brennan, siblings living in a Chicago tenement in the late 1800s. After the death of their mother, they come under the care of Dr. Cray's Asylum for Little Wanderers and are each sent to different families out west to begin new lives. They reach adulthood without seeing each other again.

Belonging is Felicia's story as she leaves a home in Wyoming where she knew no real love and begins her life in Idaho as a teacher. Betrayal begins with Hugh traveling from Chicago (where he returned in his teen years) to reunite with Felicia in Idaho. Both their lives take unexpected turns as they find much more than they dared hope for.

Both stories were a delight to read. I was drawn into the characters' lives immediately and felt that I was right there with them as they found their places in new surroundings. These are comfortable, feel-good stories with very real people who struggle through day-to-day challenges and draw their strength and wisdom from their relationships with God.

My only negative comment is this: Beloved, Diana's story is not available yet. Now I have to impatiently wait for the conclusion!

(By the way, am I the only one who sees Jane Seymour as Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, in the model on the cover of Belonging?)

Thanks to Zondervan for providing these books free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

In book one of Robin Lee Hatcher's "Where the Heart Lives" series, the town of Frenchman's Bluff in the high desert of Idaho is in need of a new school teacher. Felicia Kristoffersen is in need of a teaching position, one that will take her to a new place with the promise of new beginnings that will help her forget her painful past. She arrives in Frenchman's Bluff with a desire to prove herself in this position; but unbeknownst to her, there are those who never wanted her to come in the first place.

Colin Murphy, a local merchant cares most about his motherless daughter Charity. While he knows the town needs a teacher, he believes a single, inexperienced lady teacher will not provide the educational advantages he wants his daughter and the other students of Frenchman's Bluff to have. Experience has told him they just don't stick with the job for long. He is about to learn that Felicia is not your average teacher.

They both are about to find that God is "working all things together for good" in spite of their past sorrows and disappointments to give them the love, joy, and guidance they so desperately desire and in ways they least expect.

I found this book to be a wonderful read; one I had difficulty putting down. (By guest reviewer J.LaTour)

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy of Belonging by Robin Lee Hatcher was provided by Zondervan on behalf of the author to facilitate an honest review with obligation for positive remarks.